A year ago this week, Sept. 11, 2012, Methodist Dallas Medical Center broke ground on the new 248,000-square-foot Charles A. Sammons Trauma and Critical Care Tower. As we are reminded to appreciate what our first responders do every day, we celebrate the construction progress of the tower and look forward to opening the new facility to the residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex a year from now.

Over the years, Methodist Health System has grown with the community and endeavored to stay ahead of its increasing demands for unparalleled health care services. The new tower is the latest example of that, replacing some spaces that are more than 50 years old. The carefully planned design places nurses and other members of our team of health care professionals in the optimum location to watch over and care for our patients. Considering Methodist Dallas sees more than 60,000 emergency patients annually, including 1,500 trauma patients, the new tower features:

58 intake and exam rooms

5 trauma suites

A dedicated CT scanner

8 surgical suites

70 critical care and step-down beds.

The new tower integrates some of the latest diagnostic and treatment technology, and the layout of the emergency department (ED) is designed specifically to speed patient throughput and decrease door-to-doctor time. In addition, the new design will improve the patient experience with an enlarged and enhanced surgery waiting area and larger critical care rooms to accommodate family members.

A separate entrance for trauma patients and patients referred to the ED by Methodist Health System physicians will also speed access to care. For trauma patients, it’s all about time, beginning with getting these critically ill patients into a trauma suite so we can immediately assess their condition and stabilize them. The design of the new tower puts clinical tools and equipment at caregivers’ immediate disposal in the trauma center, including a dedicated MRI, CT scanner, and radiology services.

We anticipate the new tower will create 250 additional jobs over the next three years. And while we recognize that having an updated facility will further enhance our quality patient care, we also know that it is our employees who truly make the difference for our patients. We believe our most important asset is our employees and we are committed to helping them do their very best every day. This commitment, in the context of our culture of compassion and the advanced technology featured in the new critical care tower, provides an excellent environment for our clinical and professional staff at Methodist Dallas to grow and thrive in their careers.

And for that, we see this new tower as a win-win-win. It’s a win for our patients in our communities who trust their health and well-being to us, day in and day out. It’s a win for the region. In fact, we’re proud that this $124 million expansion represents the first $100 million investment in southern Dallas County in recent years. And it’s a win for our employees, who will be able to utilize some of the latest technology and healing environment to provide care for our patients and their families.

If you’re ready to grow your career with a visionary hospital, then it’s time to choose Methodist Health System. Learn more by visiting Jobs.MethodistHealthSystem.org.